In 1974 jaded rock critic Jon Landau wrote "I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen" after being wowed by the then unknown act that blew the doors off a small club in Boston. Along with courses like Brewster Ridge at Smuggler's in Vermont, Frost Valley in New York, Sabittus just down the road, and Maple Hill in Massachusetts, there is an undeniable trend, disc golf is heading for a level of quality in the northeast that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. Pineland Farms is a natural evolution in the top echelons of destination courses.
Hole-by-hole
#1 - your basic basket across an open field, 295' away, when the wind is down this is an easy par for a rec player and top players will see it as an ace run. Get a little too aggressive any you could catch the slope past the basket, but this is a pretty run-of-the mill hole. Don't let that fool you. You won't see another "boring" hole on this course again. By the turn you might be wishing for such boredom.
#2- Tee downhill across some scruff into a gap in the trees and negotiate right to left to the basket. You'll have to hit a tight line, there are many trees to grab an errant shot, and if you are unfortunate enough to kick left (or hard right) you are in a pretty impenetrable forest. Pitch out and take your bogie. At 390' this par three is a challenge for all skill levels. A big well placed RHBH hyzer might get you close, but it will take both power and precision. Nasty hole for a rec player, better be on your game!
#3 - Not my favorite hole on the course, very short (188'), sharp dogleg right uphill to a protected basic. There are lots of "early trees" to keep you honest. Really takes a hard turning mid to get close, tough shot shape for most players. The removal of one tree might make this a better hole, but the removal of two trees would make this too easy. When you stand on the tee you'll know immediately the trees I'm thinking of.
#4 - Tee off from an elevated tee to a basket 625' away across a manicured pasture to a basket set atop a grassy nob. This is one of the most beautiful par fours I've ever played, with the Maine hills and farmland framed in the distance. A couple of subtle challenges in the design... first the tee box points you slightly right of the basket... and even though it's a pretty open fairway it does "pinch" near the landing area and can give you some trouble to the right. The second is the basket is up on a "nob". Any flaws in your approach in any direction will be magnified by the slope. As a Rec player, I played this a par five, though big arms will be able to take a birdie run.
#5 - Hole four "in reverse" parallel to #4 fairway, tee back to a basket up hill and tucked just into the woods. This one measures 530' but plays a little longer with the elevation. Winds can offer challenges on #4 and #5, you'll be diving in an open area and the gentle sloping terrain can create some swirling winds that are hard to read.
#6 - A 492' undulating challenge along a cross-country ski path with a basket up in a clearing with a spectacular view of the white barns and pastures beyond. Again, some power and precision is needed on this narrow par four, with woods closing in. Get careless with your approach and the slope will cause havoc.
Hole 7 - Cross the road a short hike up to the next tee to enter the wooded part of the course. Seven is a bit uphill at the end, narrow and straight along a logging road to a protected green. At 406' this is the shortest par four on the course, but that doesn't necessarily translate to "easiest".
Hole 8 - A long par 3 up a logging road, again to a basket well protected by some birches and pines. Takes some precision to get close enough for a birdie look. The logging road runs from left to right in front of the tee, but I wouldn't really call this a dogleg. If you catch the right line you can go straight at the basket. The woods on the left slope off, go too far left and you can make for a difficult recovery shot.
Hole 9 - An longer par 3, 357' through the woods with trouble lurking just off the fairway. There are some lines to the basket in there, but you must hit a tight line. Again, as a rec player, I played this as a par 4 and even then it took some shot making to make that.
Hole 10 - A tight wooded par four, with a blind shot from the tee. At 546' a good shot to the clearly defined landing area still leaves a demanding tight shot to the basket. The sign shows this as a dogleg left, but depending on where you hit the landing area it can be relatively straight. As a player who struggles to throw 250' with any accuracy, I'll have to say these middle round holes in the woods were very challenging.
Hole 11 - Another blind tee shot, at 358' a long and tight par three. Eleven's sign shows it a fairly straight, but the line I the basket was tucked away to the left pretty far. Again, I played this as a par four.
Hole 12 - Another long 393' par three, maybe a little less dense forest then the previous few holes. For a rec player you are probably feeling pretty beat up at this point. From hear out it gets a touch easier.
Hole 13 - A little shorter, at least you can easily see the basket from this tee. Maybe a little right to left, still tight lines for a 277' hole.
Hole 14 - A favorite! Tee from an elevated tee box in the woods, through a pretty big opening (just miss hat one tree in the middle). The Fairway opens up pretty well, at 291' this is the first one that plays a little shorter than the posted distance with that elevation change. Still, some slope around the basket if you get careless. This is a pretty and fun hole and for a rec player your first real birdie chance since #1. After you tee you can't go down the slope, be sure to follow the path around to the left to prevent erosion in a sensitive area.
Hole 15 - A big dogleg left to right. If you try to cut the dogleg too close your can get yourself in big trouble, but some spindly trees just left of the tee-box keeps you from playing it too safe. Beautiful vista of colorful hardwoods on the mid October day I played this.
Hole 16 - You are probably tired and hungry at this point. At the tee box you are greeted with a sign with the menu from the Marketplace. Good sandwiches. A short par 3, 207' over a drainage area with the basket on an "S" shaped levy. Short, long, left, or right and you're left with an uphill approach. Place your drive well and you'll card your birdie.
Hole 17 - At 337' this par three requires you to hit a gap in the woods to get a run to the basket. Even if you hit the gap, you'll find some well-placed trees for you to make a solid approach to this basket. If you miss the gap, the woods are pretty thick, you probably will need to pitch it back to the fairway and take your bogie.
Hole 18 - A dramatic finishing hole, tees from down out of the woods out to a basket in the open up on the hill, a slight dogleg right-to-left. A big drive will leave a run at birdie. Get greedy and make a mistake on the drive and bogie is possible. Could be a two shot swing in a tight match. A bit of a walk back to the pro shop, parking lot, and the Marketplace.